Title: What is Experiential Christianity? Meta: There is a subjective element to the Christian life. There are seasons when Christ will draw near to the believer in an experiential way. We ought to pray for more of the subjective power and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians. Tags: experience,subjective,Christian,question,answer 1 00:00:00,659 --> 00:00:02,602 We would like to know even more 2 00:00:02,602 --> 00:00:06,076 about the experimental aspect - 3 00:00:06,076 --> 00:00:09,419 the felt Christ. 4 00:00:09,419 --> 00:00:12,300 What are we talking about? 5 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:18,894 What should we be looking for? 6 00:00:18,894 --> 00:00:21,405 Well, there are those seasons of 7 00:00:21,405 --> 00:00:25,017 encounters of a pervasive sense 8 00:00:25,017 --> 00:00:29,245 of the presence of Christ. 9 00:00:29,245 --> 00:00:31,418 I know in this age in which we live 10 00:00:31,418 --> 00:00:33,928 where deception runs rampant, 11 00:00:33,928 --> 00:00:36,600 that the subjective oftentimes 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:37,845 is really frowned upon 13 00:00:37,845 --> 00:00:40,437 by reformed people. 14 00:00:40,437 --> 00:00:42,518 But it bothers me on the other hand 15 00:00:42,518 --> 00:00:46,010 that people go to such an extent the other way. 16 00:00:46,010 --> 00:00:47,122 It's all cerebral. 17 00:00:47,122 --> 00:00:48,933 It's all intellectual. 18 00:00:48,933 --> 00:00:51,542 There's nothing animated. 19 00:00:51,542 --> 00:00:53,478 There are seasons, friend, 20 00:00:53,478 --> 00:00:55,540 when quite honestly, 21 00:00:55,540 --> 00:01:00,855 I sense Christ drawing feelingly near. 22 00:01:00,855 --> 00:01:03,077 I struggled years ago, 23 00:01:03,077 --> 00:01:04,777 and I asked Brother Paul Washer, 24 00:01:04,777 --> 00:01:07,241 I said, Paul, what do you think my problem is? 25 00:01:07,241 --> 00:01:10,026 I just don't really feel like I'm connecting with Christ. 26 00:01:10,026 --> 00:01:12,951 There's just not that sense of God. 27 00:01:12,951 --> 00:01:14,122 And Paul told me, 28 00:01:14,122 --> 00:01:19,129 he said I think you've become too civilized. 29 00:01:19,129 --> 00:01:23,272 You know, you're just so theologically astute, 30 00:01:23,272 --> 00:01:26,506 there's no subjective whatsoever. 31 00:01:26,506 --> 00:01:28,422 And when Paul and I talked about it, 32 00:01:28,422 --> 00:01:31,403 I had had an encounter right after my conversion 33 00:01:31,403 --> 00:01:33,423 of a felt Christ, 34 00:01:33,423 --> 00:01:34,604 where I mean literally, 35 00:01:34,604 --> 00:01:36,564 for ten days there was such a sense 36 00:01:36,564 --> 00:01:37,877 of the presence of Christ 37 00:01:37,877 --> 00:01:39,304 that I walked in, 38 00:01:39,304 --> 00:01:41,568 and as Paul and I dialogued about this, 39 00:01:41,568 --> 00:01:42,662 Paul told me, he said, 40 00:01:42,662 --> 00:01:45,301 you know, brother, in our pursuit of Christ, 41 00:01:45,301 --> 00:01:48,008 if we're willing to tarry, 42 00:01:48,008 --> 00:01:50,856 if we're willing to persevere in our pursuit, 43 00:01:50,856 --> 00:01:54,541 He always comes. 44 00:01:54,541 --> 00:01:57,440 There is a dimension of the felt Christ. 45 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,337 But quite honestly, 46 00:01:59,337 --> 00:02:01,228 we're just too busy. 47 00:02:01,228 --> 00:02:03,788 We're victimized by the barrenness of busyness. 48 00:02:03,788 --> 00:02:04,740 We're tired. 49 00:02:04,740 --> 00:02:06,143 We're dull spiritually. 50 00:02:06,143 --> 00:02:07,951 We don't take these things seriously. 51 00:02:07,951 --> 00:02:09,825 But I tell you, friend, there are times 52 00:02:09,825 --> 00:02:11,138 when you draw nigh to God, 53 00:02:11,138 --> 00:02:12,666 God begins to draw near to you. 54 00:02:12,666 --> 00:02:14,579 There's a sense of the felt Christ. 55 00:02:14,579 --> 00:02:16,011 And he buoy's you up 56 00:02:16,011 --> 00:02:18,135 and supernaturally sustains you, 57 00:02:18,135 --> 00:02:22,129 and enables you to even triumph over fatigue. 58 00:02:22,129 --> 00:02:23,685 Because God is in the midst. 59 00:02:23,685 --> 00:02:26,359 I don't know if you know what I'm talking about or not, 60 00:02:26,359 --> 00:02:27,418 but I'm telling you, 61 00:02:27,418 --> 00:02:30,047 I really believe the Scripture teaches this, 62 00:02:30,047 --> 00:02:32,296 and I want more of Christ. 63 00:02:32,296 --> 00:02:34,869 I want to sense and feel more of His presence. 64 00:02:34,869 --> 00:02:36,214 Now, when He comes, 65 00:02:36,214 --> 00:02:37,211 I'll just say this, 66 00:02:37,211 --> 00:02:38,959 there's not only joy unspeakable 67 00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:40,279 and full of glory, 68 00:02:40,279 --> 00:02:44,079 but there's a pervasive sense of the fear of God. 69 00:02:44,079 --> 00:02:46,527 And what will accompany that is great trial, 70 00:02:46,527 --> 00:02:48,353 great testing, 71 00:02:48,353 --> 00:02:50,818 where there will be a spiritual warfare 72 00:02:50,818 --> 00:02:52,421 that you'll begin to experience 73 00:02:52,421 --> 00:02:55,304 like you never have before. 74 00:02:55,304 --> 00:02:58,317 And so, this is what I mean, 75 00:02:58,317 --> 00:02:59,875 maybe I'm just rambling, 76 00:02:59,875 --> 00:03:02,919 but there is reality in what I'm saying here. 77 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,131 And I want balance in my Christian life, 78 00:03:05,131 --> 00:03:06,748 but I've been way too cerebral 79 00:03:06,748 --> 00:03:08,489 and too intellectual 80 00:03:08,489 --> 00:03:10,905 and trying to be theologically precise, 81 00:03:10,905 --> 00:03:13,816 and yet there's more to the Christian life than that. 82 00:03:13,816 --> 00:03:15,556 There is the subjective side. 83 00:03:15,556 --> 00:03:17,391 I'm not talking about something that 84 00:03:17,391 --> 00:03:19,331 does not have any biblical basis. 85 00:03:19,331 --> 00:03:20,660 I'm not talking about something that's 86 00:03:20,660 --> 00:03:22,114 not biblically predicated. 87 00:03:22,114 --> 00:03:23,839 I'm talking about something though 88 00:03:23,839 --> 00:03:26,825 that's real, that's biblically warranted 89 00:03:26,825 --> 00:03:28,295 as we look to the Lord. 90 00:03:28,295 --> 00:03:32,307 And being strengthened with might by His Spirit 91 00:03:32,307 --> 00:03:33,773 is the great need of the hour. 92 00:03:33,773 --> 00:03:36,297 That's what we need to pray for in our churches 93 00:03:36,297 --> 00:03:38,240 is that we be strengthened with might 94 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:43,329 corporately by His Spirit. 95 00:03:43,329 --> 00:03:47,182 I echo the same concerns. 96 00:03:47,182 --> 00:03:49,196 I'll just let the cat out of the bag, 97 00:03:49,196 --> 00:03:50,271 I'm a cessationist. 98 00:03:50,271 --> 00:03:52,482 So in my circle, in my camp, 99 00:03:52,482 --> 00:03:53,893 we oftentimes will frown on 100 00:03:53,893 --> 00:03:55,022 anything experiential. 101 00:03:55,022 --> 00:03:57,165 I think that's wrong. 102 00:03:57,165 --> 00:03:58,739 Because we're emotional beings. 103 00:03:58,739 --> 00:04:00,201 God gave us emotions. 104 00:04:00,201 --> 00:04:01,469 He gave us feelings. 105 00:04:01,469 --> 00:04:04,916 He gave us very real presence of that. 106 00:04:04,916 --> 00:04:08,549 But something that strikes me is 107 00:04:08,549 --> 00:04:10,617 when you have weakness - 108 00:04:10,617 --> 00:04:12,958 Paul says when I am weak, therefore I am strong. 109 00:04:12,958 --> 00:04:14,645 It's the power of God that comes 110 00:04:14,645 --> 00:04:15,959 through our weaknesses. 111 00:04:15,959 --> 00:04:18,900 When your Christian life starts to dry up, 112 00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:20,639 it's usually because you're relying 113 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:22,521 so much on yourself 114 00:04:22,521 --> 00:04:24,638 and your ability to understand doctrine, 115 00:04:24,638 --> 00:04:26,632 or your ability to be powerful, 116 00:04:26,632 --> 00:04:28,507 or your ability to do whatever. 117 00:04:28,507 --> 00:04:29,871 Pastors are terrible for it. 118 00:04:29,871 --> 00:04:31,525 We do it all the time. 119 00:04:31,525 --> 00:04:33,554 But when we're weakened, 120 00:04:33,554 --> 00:04:36,251 when we sense our own sinfulness 121 00:04:36,251 --> 00:04:39,506 and we sense a lack of strength and power, 122 00:04:39,506 --> 00:04:43,199 and not knowing what to do... 123 00:04:43,199 --> 00:04:44,682 you can try to pull yourself up 124 00:04:44,682 --> 00:04:45,642 by your bootstraps, 125 00:04:45,642 --> 00:04:47,511 but that's not going to do it. 126 00:04:47,511 --> 00:04:49,278 That's not the way that you persevere 127 00:04:49,278 --> 00:04:50,941 in the Christian life. 128 00:04:50,941 --> 00:04:51,994 That's fleshly. 129 00:04:51,994 --> 00:04:55,990 Paul says in Galatians 3, 130 00:04:55,990 --> 00:04:57,312 what came by the Spirit, 131 00:04:57,312 --> 00:04:59,122 is he going to perfect in the flesh? 132 00:04:59,122 --> 00:05:00,725 The answer's no. 133 00:05:00,725 --> 00:05:03,034 So, when we are weak, 134 00:05:03,034 --> 00:05:04,600 and we actually cry out to God 135 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,526 and confess to the Lord, 136 00:05:06,526 --> 00:05:07,728 I've been prideful; 137 00:05:07,728 --> 00:05:09,605 I've been trying to do this on my own; 138 00:05:09,605 --> 00:05:11,024 and you beg Him to draw near 139 00:05:11,024 --> 00:05:12,399 like our brother said, 140 00:05:12,399 --> 00:05:13,331 He will. 141 00:05:13,331 --> 00:05:14,564 And I've been overwhelmed 142 00:05:14,564 --> 00:05:15,624 with a very emotional, 143 00:05:15,624 --> 00:05:17,563 a very real presence 144 00:05:17,563 --> 00:05:19,828 that He's drawing me to Him. 145 00:05:19,828 --> 00:05:21,049 Sometimes if I preach 146 00:05:21,049 --> 00:05:22,706 and I feel like I've got nothing, 147 00:05:22,706 --> 00:05:23,658 when I'm weak, 148 00:05:23,658 --> 00:05:25,803 He does something. 149 00:05:25,803 --> 00:05:27,421 He works in such a way. 150 00:05:27,421 --> 00:05:30,761 So I don't want to say be weak, 151 00:05:30,761 --> 00:05:32,568 but I'm saying use that weakness 152 00:05:32,568 --> 00:05:33,767 and rely on the Lord. 153 00:05:33,767 --> 00:05:35,996 Look to Him by faith, 154 00:05:35,996 --> 00:05:38,356 and He will draw you close to Him. 155 00:05:38,356 --> 00:05:42,670 But it's not going to be through pride. 156 00:05:42,670 --> 00:05:49,493 One final comment on that, 157 00:05:49,493 --> 00:05:51,964 Wasn't it Whitefield that used the phrase, 158 00:05:51,964 --> 00:05:54,846 "Preach a felt Christ." 159 00:05:54,846 --> 00:05:55,977 Whitefield. 160 00:05:55,977 --> 00:05:58,816 Of course, that phrase is not in the Bible. 161 00:05:58,816 --> 00:06:00,504 But in conveys something. 162 00:06:00,504 --> 00:06:03,235 What he was talking about was 163 00:06:03,235 --> 00:06:06,756 the experiential, present ministry 164 00:06:06,756 --> 00:06:07,913 of the Holy Spirit. 165 00:06:07,913 --> 00:06:11,488 That's what we're talking about. 166 00:06:11,488 --> 00:06:14,656 There is so much across the board 167 00:06:14,656 --> 00:06:17,123 from extreme fanaticism 168 00:06:17,123 --> 00:06:19,507 and extremely false teaching 169 00:06:19,507 --> 00:06:21,353 about the Holy Spirit, 170 00:06:21,353 --> 00:06:25,067 all the way to the other extreme 171 00:06:25,067 --> 00:06:28,592 of parts of the professing church 172 00:06:28,592 --> 00:06:30,432 that says once the Holy Spirit 173 00:06:30,432 --> 00:06:33,077 has regenerated someone, 174 00:06:33,077 --> 00:06:37,887 all that He ever does is illuminate the Bible 175 00:06:37,887 --> 00:06:41,387 and give your mind understanding of truth. 176 00:06:41,387 --> 00:06:44,700 We aren't to experience anything more. 177 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:46,991 We shouldn't look for anything more. 178 00:06:46,991 --> 00:06:52,667 Anything more that's experience is counterfeit. 179 00:06:52,667 --> 00:06:56,163 And that's a wrong extreme too. 180 00:06:56,163 --> 00:06:58,330 It really is. 181 00:06:58,330 --> 00:07:01,114 Because the New Testament speaks about 182 00:07:01,114 --> 00:07:05,171 the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit. 183 00:07:05,171 --> 00:07:08,234 If you read most New Testament commentators 184 00:07:08,234 --> 00:07:10,089 that are honest about that, 185 00:07:10,089 --> 00:07:11,924 whether it's D.A. Carson, 186 00:07:11,924 --> 00:07:14,795 or Iain Murray is really marvelous on this; 187 00:07:14,795 --> 00:07:18,765 the very nature of the language is experiential. 188 00:07:18,765 --> 00:07:21,090 The Holy Spirit doesn't stop His work 189 00:07:21,090 --> 00:07:26,869 when He regenerates us and indwells us. 190 00:07:26,869 --> 00:07:28,933 He is alive. 191 00:07:28,933 --> 00:07:31,340 He is God within us. 192 00:07:31,340 --> 00:07:35,693 And so, He's a Person Who communes with us, 193 00:07:35,693 --> 00:07:38,456 encourages us, 194 00:07:38,456 --> 00:07:40,775 strengthens us, 195 00:07:40,775 --> 00:07:43,053 revives us, 196 00:07:43,053 --> 00:07:48,791 and He is Christ in us. 197 00:07:48,791 --> 00:07:53,125 We live in the dispensation of the Spirit. 198 00:07:53,125 --> 00:07:54,634 As John Owen said, 199 00:07:54,634 --> 00:07:57,685 the Old Testament was the dispensation of the Father, 200 00:07:57,685 --> 00:08:00,573 the Gospel era was the dispensation of the Son, 201 00:08:00,573 --> 00:08:02,435 and when the Son ascended on high 202 00:08:02,435 --> 00:08:05,372 and gave the Holy Spirit to the church in Acts 2, 203 00:08:05,372 --> 00:08:07,767 that began the era or the dispensation 204 00:08:07,767 --> 00:08:09,987 of the Holy Spirit. 205 00:08:09,987 --> 00:08:14,574 So, the Holy Spirit is Immanuel - 206 00:08:14,574 --> 00:08:16,748 God with us now. 207 00:08:16,748 --> 00:08:17,608 Right? 208 00:08:17,608 --> 00:08:19,587 So we should cultivate our relationship 209 00:08:19,587 --> 00:08:21,256 with the Holy Spirit. 210 00:08:21,256 --> 00:08:24,825 And we should welcome His fullness more and more. 211 00:08:24,825 --> 00:08:26,541 Luke 11:13 212 00:08:26,541 --> 00:08:29,550 And we should cultivate our relationship with Him. 213 00:08:29,550 --> 00:08:32,008 He can comfort us, 214 00:08:32,008 --> 00:08:33,640 speak to us, 215 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:34,801 quicken us. 216 00:08:34,801 --> 00:08:37,418 You've heard sermons that were just mediocre. 217 00:08:37,418 --> 00:08:39,515 And they weren't really speaking to you. 218 00:08:39,515 --> 00:08:41,940 All of a sudden, 219 00:08:41,940 --> 00:08:43,341 the preacher becomes animated 220 00:08:43,341 --> 00:08:46,947 and alive and there's power and authority; 221 00:08:46,947 --> 00:08:48,913 and God is speaking in the moment 222 00:08:48,913 --> 00:08:50,756 in a way that wasn't happening before. 223 00:08:50,756 --> 00:08:53,936 That's the activity of the Holy Spirit. 224 00:08:53,936 --> 00:08:56,366 And we should pray for that more and more 225 00:08:56,366 --> 00:08:58,944 in our lives and in our churches. 226 00:08:58,944 --> 00:09:01,002 And there are seasons for that. 227 00:09:01,002 --> 00:09:03,230 Just because you don't see 228 00:09:03,230 --> 00:09:08,239 the Spirit causing you to experience something, 229 00:09:08,239 --> 00:09:10,609 doesn't necessarily mean that anything's wrong. 230 00:09:10,609 --> 00:09:14,040 There are seasons where we just walk in obedience 231 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,168 and we're to do what we're supposed to do. 232 00:09:16,168 --> 00:09:19,890 There are seasons when He will draw near 233 00:09:19,890 --> 00:09:22,503 and make Christ precious to us. 234 00:09:22,503 --> 00:09:24,508 Because that's His ministry. 235 00:09:24,508 --> 00:09:27,058 So, we need to be open. 236 00:09:27,058 --> 00:09:29,920 I was just reading on the life of Spurgeon 237 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,076 and he said that it was a very rare occasion 238 00:09:34,076 --> 00:09:36,992 that He did not have a tangible sense 239 00:09:36,992 --> 00:09:38,426 of the presence of Christ 240 00:09:38,426 --> 00:09:40,458 right there beside him in the pulpit. 241 00:09:40,458 --> 00:09:43,158 If you read the works of John Owen, 242 00:09:43,158 --> 00:09:46,216 who in my opinion is Mr. Intellectual, 243 00:09:46,216 --> 00:09:48,999 yet he speaks of this felt, manifested 244 00:09:48,999 --> 00:09:50,568 presence of Christ. 245 00:09:50,568 --> 00:09:52,808 Now, what's important is biblically, 246 00:09:52,808 --> 00:09:53,968 where do we find this? 247 00:09:53,968 --> 00:09:55,693 Do you remember in John 14? 248 00:09:55,693 --> 00:09:57,491 "He that keepeth My commandments, 249 00:09:57,491 --> 00:09:59,621 My Father and I will come 250 00:09:59,621 --> 00:10:02,728 and make Our abode with him." 251 00:10:02,728 --> 00:10:05,089 Remember Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord alway, 252 00:10:05,089 --> 00:10:06,925 and again I say rejoice! 253 00:10:06,925 --> 00:10:08,298 Let your moderation 254 00:10:08,298 --> 00:10:10,080 (the word means sweet reasonableness) 255 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:11,565 be known unto all men. 256 00:10:11,565 --> 00:10:13,012 The Lord is at hand." 257 00:10:13,012 --> 00:10:15,066 He's not speaking of the coming of Christ. 258 00:10:15,066 --> 00:10:17,952 He's saying the Lord is right there. 259 00:10:17,952 --> 00:10:20,185 So, there are times you see in church history 260 00:10:20,185 --> 00:10:22,430 where this overwhelming sense 261 00:10:22,430 --> 00:10:23,808 of the presence of Christ 262 00:10:23,808 --> 00:10:25,073 comes on the scene. 263 00:10:25,073 --> 00:10:27,351 And God manifests His glory and His presence 264 00:10:27,351 --> 00:10:30,196 in just a very tangible way, 265 00:10:30,196 --> 00:10:33,550 subjectively or feelingly. 266 00:10:33,550 --> 00:10:37,118 One final thought: 267 00:10:37,118 --> 00:10:38,839 Scripture says with Christ 268 00:10:38,839 --> 00:10:41,682 is the residue of the Spirit. 269 00:10:41,682 --> 00:10:45,167 He was crowned Lord and Christ 270 00:10:45,167 --> 00:10:48,832 ultimately as the High Priest over the church 271 00:10:48,832 --> 00:10:50,934 and the Head of the church. 272 00:10:50,934 --> 00:10:53,801 He said I will send the Holy Spirit. 273 00:10:53,801 --> 00:10:56,052 He said the Father will send Him in my name. 274 00:10:56,052 --> 00:10:58,104 But He said I will send Him. 275 00:10:58,104 --> 00:11:02,730 So Christ poured out the Holy Spirit 276 00:11:02,730 --> 00:11:07,457 in His heavenly reign as the Head of the church, 277 00:11:07,457 --> 00:11:09,225 but any time in history 278 00:11:09,225 --> 00:11:10,932 there's ever been a revival, 279 00:11:10,932 --> 00:11:14,015 an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 280 00:11:14,015 --> 00:11:17,730 Christ is pouring His Spirit out again on His people. 281 00:11:17,730 --> 00:11:21,005 Iain Murray's book, "Pentecost Today," 282 00:11:21,005 --> 00:11:23,764 is probably the best book any Christian can read 283 00:11:23,764 --> 00:11:25,256 on this subject. 284 00:11:25,256 --> 00:11:27,774 If you haven't read it, get it and read it. 285 00:11:27,774 --> 00:11:30,187 And it will help you immensely.